The next morning was quick. I met up with Papa Tony and worked out the details of our new partnership. I would deliver pizzas at noon when I was on lunch break. Of course, he didn't know it was my lunch break. For all he knew, I was a hard working adult who spent the whole day in this costume.

As I swung to school, that concept rippled through my body. All day? Could I make this my life? Well I would need to find a new cleaning strategy first; my suit was starting to reek as much as my school clothes.

When I got to school, I realized just how dire the laundry situation was. People would start to question things if I was constantly coming in dirty. I already got lucky, having this be a public school that still had a uniform, no one questioned the same outfit every day. But that smell, that would draw attention. Cleaning wasn't something I could put off forever. Can't just throw it all in the wash though, public washing machines aren't exactly the most trustworthy. Sink washing is too risky, can't have May finding me drying out my mask. I'd have to find some kind of alternative.

An idea came to me, in chemistry of all places. It was the only class I really had to pay attention to anymore. Not because of the course material, no, I had to make web fluid in this class. Mrs. Trek checked every student's personal brewing station except mine. Perks of being a teacher's pet for most of high school. While she wasn't looking, I would make and stash web fluid. I always had time to do the assignments as well anyways. Today I would have to leave my work for another day though.

After I finished my web fluid, I looked through my Chemistry 12 book. I had memorized most of its contents in grade nine, but I had notes in the margins that were web related. Failed web formulae was most of it. Too sticky, not sticky enough, exploded far too often, smelly, and then there it was. Written on a wrinkled page 131, "Too foamy, and weirdly warm?" With some adjustments, this could be a fast working detergent formula. Adding to the ingredients I listed, and making a few small adjustments, I was confident in my creation. Ringing flooded my ears as the period ended. The school bell didn't really help me anymore, somehow my spider sense made keeping track of time a lot easier, so all my stuff was already stashed and cleaned.

Daily activities at Midtown High were nothing special. Head from class one, to two, to three, to four, then go home. Most of the time my mind was on other things, but there were some days that stood out. Today was, sadly, one of those days. When I entered the cafeteria, ready to have another average hour of eating soggy burger by myself, something caught my eye. Two tables away from my usual spot, there was a small crowd chanting.

"Hairy Harry eat that hairy!" As I got closer I got a better look at what was going on. Flash Thompson was trying to shove some kid's face on a particularly hairy spot on the floor. Ah yes, that would explain the chanting. Flash is your grade A scumbag. Huge muscles, bright blonde hair, most popular guy at school, star football player, and unfortunately, in charge of school slogans and cheers. Harry must be the victim, but I couldn't get a good look at him. Mostly due to him being in a seal pose on the cafeteria floor. Not exactly a Spider-Man level situation, but I couldn't just let this poor kid get beat up on. Being a punching bag was something I learned to deal with in high school, I don't want other people putting up with what I had to for so long.

"Hey man, stop that." I walked up to him, pushing past the crowd. As much as I wanted to start off with a joke, that wasn't exactly what shy, nerdy, Peter Parker was supposed to be like. He took his hands off Harry and slowly stood up. Even though I had the strength to juggle him like an apple, he still towered over me.

"Well if it isn't Penis Parker!" Ouch, I almost forgot that one. Spending all my nights as a vigilante makes me forget that to most people, I'm just a common loser. "I thought you'd learned your lesson after that swirly I gave you." He was half right. The last time I stood up for a kid, I had my face drenched like never before. But that wasn't why I stopped helping people. The more attention I draw to myself, the higher the chance of people noticing my odd disappearances and figuring it all out. Can't be going around being a school hero or anything. Every once in a while though, I can't take just being a bystander. Ever since that day, I swore to help as much as I possibly can.

"Yeah whatever, could you just stop it man?" As I leaned down to help up Harry, I knew I was in for a treat. My spider sense could ring all it wanted, it didn't change the fact I couldn't pull martial arts moves on this guy.

Just as I had been warned, Flash kicked my feet out from under me, landing me in the same state as the person I wanted to help. I looked at Harry and without words he could tell what I was trying to do. He got up as I kicked at Flash's ankle. Not enough to bring him to the ground, but definitely enough to keep his attention on me.

"Oh that's how we're gonna play," he spat at me. "Fine then. I was gonna be civil with you, you little snot, but Flash can deal out much more than that. Much more." I hate how he uses the third person.

It's impressive how used to embarrassment I am. Besides, I'd rather be spitting out hair than blood. I could do without the staring though, that was annoying. Sitting alone at my usual table, I felt like a zoo animal. Until eventually, someone came and sat next to me. No one had sat next to me at the cafeteria in years, so it was a surprise to see Harry come around. Before, he had seemingly ran off to the bathroom to either hide from the situation, or clean himself up. We didn't say a lot for the rest of the lunch break.

"Thanks."

"Don't mention it."

It wasn't much, but it felt like he didn't mind the company. Despite wanting to keep a low profile, I can't help but admit it was getting lonely. When the bell rang I had a feeling that he would be back beside me the next day.

Over the next week, I was proven right. Harry came and sat beside me each day at lunch, saying nothing each time. It didn't really matter to me, I could tell we had some level of companionship without any conversation. Maybe he thought us nerds should stick together, or maybe he just felt bad. Either way, I appreciated him being there.

Things were looking up in general for me. Delivering pizzas had proven to be overwhelmingly successful, I barely remembered feeling anxious about taking the job. Papa Tony's was now the most noteworthy business in town, with Spider-Man as its most noteworthy employee. For three days in a row, I made front page news just swinging around with pizzas tied to my back. The paychecks were great. Aunt May seemed worried at first, but I could tell she was relieved that bills were being paid on time for once.

I pulled on my mask on an early November morning. Today felt like it was going to be a good day.